How life has changed in Babergh

Babergh's population increased by about 4,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 88,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Babergh increased by 5.1%, from almost 83,500 to 87,700.

The addition of just under 4,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Babergh was home to, on average, 1.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Babergh

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Babergh increased by three years, from 42 to 45 years.

This area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 14.0% of people in Babergh are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Babergh by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Babergh

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in Babergh, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Eastof England, except St Albans and Maldon.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 27.4% to 31.4%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Babergh

In 2011, 97.8% of Babergh residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.7% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 94.9% to 90.4%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 0.9% of people in Babergh said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.6% in 2001. About 0.8% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.3%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Babergh remained close to 97.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Babergh by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Babergh

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Babergh was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.0 points.

In 2011, 30.6% of respondents in Babergh gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 17.6% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Babergh, 68.2% said they were Christian, compared with 81.5% in 2001. About 0.4% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, compared with 0.3% a decade prior.

In Babergh, 7.3% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.4% in 2001. Across Eastof England, 7.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Babergh increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Babergh by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Babergh

The percentage of Babergh residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.7% to 7.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.7%, while the percentage of Babergh residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.6% to 88.9%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 6.9% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Babergh, but at a slower rate than in Ipswich (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Babergh).

In Babergh, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.9% in 2001 to 12.6% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Ipswich increased from 10.7% to 19.9%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.6%.

The rate of social housing in Babergh remained close to 13.1%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75.8% to 71.9%.

Private renting in Babergh increased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Babergh, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Babergh working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.4% to 12.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 14.7% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Babergh decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Babergh, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Babergh residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.1% to 4.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70.4% in 2001. The percentage of Babergh residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.5% to 13.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Babergh decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Babergh, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households in Babergh without children increased from 62.8% to 64.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.5%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28.0% in 2001. The percentage of households in Babergh with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.3% to 9.2%.

The proportion of households without children increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (which remained close to 60.8%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Babergh, which comprised one person, increased from 27.1% to 28.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.4%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Babergh which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 42.4% to 38.5%.

The proportion of one-person households increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (which remained close to 28.4%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Babergh residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Babergh remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Babergh by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Babergh residents that were studying increased from 2.0% to 2.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53.8% in 2001. While the percentage of Babergh residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.0%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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